Every responsible owner should know what to feed their pet so as not to harm the mustachioed gourmet. Cats that eat poor quality food or have a monotonous diet get sick more often, are more susceptible to infections and live shorter lives. Healthy nutrition is the basis of a full and long life.
The most important thing in a cat's diet is variety. However, this does not mean that the cat needs to be treated to delicacies every day and invent new recipes. Culinary delights are a person’s choice. In nature, a cat, as a rule, adheres to one diet throughout its life. But a smart animal composes this diet so that it includes all the nutritional elements it needs in certain proportions.
Having taken a cat into the house, a person faces a choice: create a diet on his own or trust the professionals. There is no correct answer to the question of what is better – industrial feed or natural products. The main thing is that the chosen type of food meets the needs of your pet. Good dry food is undoubtedly better than feeding your cat what is in the refrigerator today. But if the owner takes the time to create a menu together with the veterinarian and always adheres to the chosen diet, without giving in to the temptation to feed the pet with what is at hand, he will not need industrial food.
It is important to feed your cat properly. An ideally balanced menu will not bring any benefit if the cat eats from morning to evening without adhering to the regime. The highest quality “holistic” can be harmful if the preference is given to the wrong product line or the pet receives too large a portion.
"Natural" feeding
It's hard to imagine a cat eating beef or boiled rice in its natural habitat. Natural food is birds and mice, grasshoppers and other bugs, some types of herbs. But it is unlikely that the owner would think of feeding insects and small rodents to the pet, if only because this is a direct path to helminthic infestation. Therefore, those products that we call natural are such only for humans, but not for cats. It is important to understand this so as not to harm your pet. The menu needs to be compiled once and for all, and adhere to the diet throughout your life, adjusting it only as necessary.
It is recommended to feed a healthy adult cat 1-2 times a day. The best time for double feeding is eight in the morning and six in the evening. If your cat eats once a day, it is advisable to give your pet food in the late afternoon. The portion is calculated empirically: the cat must eat everything that is offered to it and calmly move away from the bowl. If you haven’t eaten enough, you need to reduce the portion. She finishes her meal and licks the bowl for a long time - increase the portion. Of course, it is important to take into account the pet’s condition: the ribs can be easily felt, but do not stick out.
Natural feeding implies the use of only “natural” products. The opinion of veterinarians is categorical: either “natural” or a ready-made diet. Funny feeding introduces an imbalance, which leads to poor digestion, gastritis and colitis, metabolic disorders and a deficiency or excess of certain nutrients.
Meat– boiled or frozen (two weeks at a temperature of minus 25). Poultry, veal and beef, goat, lamb, rabbit. Lean pieces, preferably stringy or trimmings. Tenderloin is a muscular meat that contains too much protein (a huge burden on the kidneys). Eating raw meat leads to infection with helminths and some infectious diseases. Minced meat is almost not digestible and pampers the stomach. The pieces should be such that the cat chews the meat, giving the gums and teeth the necessary load.
By-products– stomachs, kidneys, hearts, liver and other offal. Low-fat, better boiled. Liver with caution and infrequently.
Dairy– cottage cheese, low-fat fermented baked milk, kefir, yogurt. They improve digestion, but an excess leads to the opposite effect - gastritis, diarrhea and other “joys”. You can treat your pet with yogurt or kefir a couple of times a week, in the morning feeding, preferably with vegetables.
Fish– only sea fish, without skin and bones, always boiled. No more than two feedings per week. If the owner is wondering what to feed a spayed or neutered pet, it is better to exclude fish from the diet completely.
Eggs– a couple of times a week, boiled quail or chicken. It is advisable to season with vegetable oil or mix with grated vegetables.
Cereals– buckwheat, rice, sometimes oats. Porridge with water or meat broth. You can add hot water and let it sit overnight, do not cook. The cereal should be regular, not steamed.
Vegetables– carrots, cucumbers, zucchini and pumpkin, sometimes cauliflower. Raw or stewed in water, seasoned with corn, olive or flaxseed oil (a third of a teaspoon of oil, no more).
Food should not be hot or cold. Room temperature or about 35 °C is optimal. The water is filtered, clean, and freely available around the clock.
You can't feed: white cabbage, fatty and salty, smoked, marinades. Legumes, pasta and flour cause fermentation, flatulence, and gastritis. Confectionery, sweet fruits and steamed cereals damage teeth and increase blood sugar levels. If a cat is naturally in good health, feeding flaws become noticeable only in old age. As a rule, until the age of 7-9 years, a healthy cat can eat anything, but after that all the owner’s mistakes make themselves felt: urolithiasis, kidney failure, gastritis, problems with the liver and pancreas, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, diabetes. A cat that eats properly will remain active for up to 10 years or longer.
Read also: How to care for a kitten's eyes: from birth to one year
Feeding a breeding cat
The cat is prepared for motherhood, starting from its birth. Nutrition should be perfectly balanced throughout life. Three months before mating, vitamins and minerals are included in the diet (a course per month, and only if the cat does not eat industrial food). The veterinarian who is observing the expectant mother will tell you what to feed your pregnant pet. Unless otherwise indicated:
- the first two weeks, the diet is increased by about 10%, and the portions are reduced so as to stretch the feeding to 4-5 meals per day;
- in the third week, the diet is increased by another 20-40%, depending on the size of the litter and the degree of activity of the pregnant cat;
- in the seventh week the diet is reduced, and the number of feedings is reduced to three per day. These should be small portions of easily digestible food;
- a few days before giving birth, the pet loses its appetite. This is the norm; you should not force feed your cat.
Its appearance, health, and mood depend on how balanced and varied a cat’s diet is. Just like humans, animals need a full range of nutrients. The diet must contain the elements necessary for the body: proteins, carbohydrates, animal and vegetable fat, vitamins, minerals.
In their natural habitat, cats eat primarily meat. Depending on their size and weight, they hunt large animals - zebras, antelopes, deer, or are content with rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, and insects. The basis of their diet is animal protein, so at home the diet should be formulated so that the cat receives it in sufficient quantities. The source of protein is meat, offal, cottage cheese. In addition to protein, animals need micro- and macroelements and vitamins, which are provided by vegetables, fruits, cereals, and ready-made vitamin complexes. When introducing vegetables and fruits into your cat's diet, you should remember that not all are suitable for animal nutrition; some contain toxic substances that can cause a sharp deterioration in health and even death.
- chicken, rabbit, turkey, veal, beef - the basis of nutrition;
- offal - lungs, liver, heart, kidneys can be used instead of meat several times a week;
- vegetables (cauliflower and white cabbage, peppers, zucchini, pumpkin) are added to the meat at each feeding or once a day;
- porridge (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice), given along with meat or dairy products;
- fermented milk products - cottage cheese, sour cream, fermented baked milk, kefir - can be consumed with cereals or as a separate food;
- vegetable oil is added to porridge or meat 2-4 times a week, half a teaspoon for better intestinal functioning;
- chicken eggs (boiled yolk), quail (raw, boiled);
- Fruits, if the cat likes them, can be given, but make sure that the animal does not eat bones and seeds;
- vitamins containing arachidonic acid, glucosamine, taurine, arginine.
- 1. Onions and garlic in any form cause hemolytic anemia.
- 2. Legumes (lentils, beans, peas, beans) are not absorbed by the body and cause fermentation.
- 3. Avocado - its oily structure attracts cats, but the persin contained in the vegetable is toxic to them, causing irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- 4. Rhubarb is dangerous due to oxalic acid poisoning, which can lead to kidney failure.
- 5. Seeds and fruit pits.
- 6. Mushrooms in any form lead to toxic shock.
- 7. Raw chicken eggs lead to a lack of vitamin B in the body, which negatively affects the condition of the skin and coat.
- 8. Duck, goose, pork, lard.
- 9. Tubular bones of rabbits and birds can damage the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
- 10. Yeast dough, baked goods, bread, homemade cakes, confectionery - cause flatulence and intestinal colic.
- 11. Dog food, especially for large breeds, is dangerous due to its high concentration of nutrients and can cause hypervitaminosis.
- 12. Vitamin complexes intended for people.
- 13. Sausage, sausages, smoked meats, hard cheeses, breakfast cereals, chips.
- 3. Boil rice, mix with chicken egg yolk, boiled carrots, pieces of chicken meat (raw or boiled).
- 4. Boil fillet of low-fat sea fish, chop, add herbs and vegetables.
- 5. Cook oatmeal, mix with cottage cheese (kefir, sour cream).
- 6. You can make small cutlets from meat and vegetables, boil them for a few minutes, and store them in the refrigerator.
- 7. Offal pate: boil beef lungs, liver, heart, mince, mix with boiled vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, sweet peppers). You can make a lot, divide into portions, place in the freezer. Add to hot porridge before feeding.
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What can you give your cat?
When giving preference to natural homemade food, you need to know what products are acceptable to feed the animal, since improper nutrition will lead to diseases and changes in behavior.
Ready-made dry food and canned food contain a balanced complex that guarantees optimal supply of the body with all necessary substances. When preparing food for your pet yourself, it is not always possible to create a menu in such a way that the necessary components are present in the diet. Having decided to feed your animal natural food, it is worth supplementing the diet with vitamin and mineral complexes designed specifically for cats.
List of foods acceptable for a cat's diet:
You need to cook food in clean dishes, without adding salt, sugar, or spices. It is unacceptable to feed your pet from a dish with the remnants of yesterday's food; bacteria multiplied in it will cause an upset stomach and vomiting.
Feeding regimen and food processing rules
An adult cat needs to be fed little by little; large portions are difficult to digest, and food that stagnates in the stomach causes discomfort to the animal. The optimal regimen is 3 to 4 times a day in portions of 30 to 70 grams per 1 kg of animal weight. By observing the pet, the owner determines how much food he needs. If your cat has eaten very little, you should not force her to finish eating. It's better to make a smaller portion next time.
Nutrition for pregnant and lactating cats
Often, a cat preparing to become a mother refuses to eat or eats much less than before pregnancy. There is no need to force her. Appetite disappears early; as soon as the animal gets used to its position, you can return to the usual feeding regimen, gradually increasing portions. The expectant mother needs a lot of vegetables, herbs, grains, vitamins A and B. Increase the amount of dairy products rich in calcium, whey is especially useful. The menu includes boiled beef cartilage, which contains a lot of vitamin D, which kittens need.
A cat weakened by childbirth also often refuses to eat. There is no need to worry and try to feed her; as soon as postpartum stress passes, her appetite will return to normal. An additional amount of cottage cheese, kefir, and sour cream is introduced into the diet of a nursing mother. To enhance lactation, the animal needs to drink a lot of liquid, pure water or whey.
During pregnancy and childbirth, a cat spends a lot of internal reserves on bearing, giving birth and nursing kittens, so her body needs additional vitamins and minerals. Vet pharmacies offer complex medications designed specifically for pregnant and lactating cats; their use will make it easier for the owner to optimally balance the pet’s diet during a difficult period for the animal.
A kitten appeared in the house - what and how to feed it?
How to feed a sterilized cat?
A cat that doesn't get sick is susceptible to many diseases, including cancer. It is better to sterilize a pet that is not intended for breeding in order to get rid of its natural instincts. The body of a sterilized animal does not produce hormones responsible for the reproductive instinct; it painlessly tolerates the absence of mating.
Neutered cats gain weight, are lazier, calmer, and inactive. Food for sterilized cats is expensive; you need to choose premium dry food or canned food. For overweight animals, low-calorie food with minimal fat content is produced. At home, nutrition is limited by reducing portions, the number of feedings is left the same, calorie content is reduced, giving less carbohydrate foods (porridge) and fat (cream, butter).
Prohibited Products
There are a number of products that are limited or excluded from the cat's menu. Some of them contain substances that are safe for humans, but toxic for cats.
You should never give cats food from your home table. It contains a lot of salt, sugar, spices, chemical additives, preservatives, dyes, and flavors. Even if family members follow a healthy lifestyle and eat organic food, it is harmful to pets.
Many foods are prohibited from being given to a cat in any quantity:
There is no need to worry if your pet accidentally ate something from the prohibited list; a single use will not cause harm, but regular feeding of inappropriate food will inevitably lead to health problems and even the death of your beloved cat.2. Cut chicken, turkey, and rabbit meat into small pieces, mix with boiled vegetables and half a teaspoon of sunflower or olive oil.
All dishes can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days or in the freezer, defrosting as needed. Based on the proposed recipes, you can create a menu for the week and your pet will be provided with nutrients for full development and physical activity. Fermented milk drinks are given to the cat as the main meal; the animal’s source of fluid is clean water, which should always be available to it.
Cute and fluffy cats have become the most beloved pets in different parts of the world. And how can you not fall in love with a charming creature, a soft bundle of happiness and warmth? Few people think that the irrepressible energy and cheerfulness of a pet is not the norm, but the result of good care and constant care. The main question that a pet owner should ask himself is what to feed his cat? What products - raw meat (natural) or dry food?
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Diet
The Internet is filled with bright photographs of plump cats lazily lounging on the sofa. They are funny and cute, but only suffer from obesity, which has become a common mustache disease. Excess weight puts abnormal pressure on joints and internal organs, causing acute liver problems. The reason is quite simple - the animal consumes much more energy than it uses. Only the correct diet eliminates the possibility of obesity, strictly determining how many times a day to feed the cat.
It is better to feed small kittens in small portions of 100 grams up to 5 times a day. When the fluffy becomes old enough, it is necessary to increase the amount of food to 400 grams at a time. The daily norm for a cat is two or three feedings per day only in a strictly defined quantity. In addition, the pet must have free access to clean and fresh water. The daily norm also depends on activity, so it is better to take into account the individual characteristics of the animal.
What to feed your beloved pet?
Why is it worth pampering your fluffy with natural food or is it better to give preference to dry food? What should proper nutrition be like and is it possible to give different foods at the same time? The owners' advice is quite varied, because everyone tries to convey their point of view or standard. Before deciding how many times a day to feed your cat, you need to understand exactly what is best for the animal. Only after knowing the difference between natural food and dry food can you make your choice.
Natural nutrition involves separately preparing food for the mustache in the required quantity. It is a mistake to think that table food is suitable for feeding a cat at home. No matter how tasty it is, the dish includes several grams of spices and salt that are incomparable to the pet’s body. Boiled or raw meat, ocean fish, cottage cheese, oatmeal, rice, carrots, apples are the main ingredients of natural food. You can also give special grass or sprouted oat grains.
Dry food already includes the necessary complex of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. They are stored for a long time, do not require additives and are intended for animals of different ages: kittens, adult cats and elderly pets. It’s not difficult to find good food, the main thing is that it suits the fluffy’s taste. When feeding dry food, you need to ensure that there is fresh water in the drinking bowl - the animal will need more liquid to digest food. You need to remember that you cannot feed your pet natural food and dry food at the same time.
Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.Why do cats like grass? One theory is that green stems contain vitamins A and D, as well as some macroelements necessary for purring.
Cat food: choosing the best
Manufacturers of food for four-legged tomboys continuously advertise their products. It is difficult to decide among the wide range, so it is better to pay attention to the description of the food. The ingredients should be in descending order of their quantity in the composition. In the first place - only meat, indicating the exact name - beef, rabbit, fish or lamb, and not meat flour. The phrase "offal" often suggests ground hooves or leather.
It’s good if the description of dry food includes grains such as rice or ground corn - they are digested better than wheat. The presence of flavors, artificial colors and preservatives should be avoided. Each ingredient in dry food should be clearly indicated, for example, if it says “minerals”, then there should be a list of them. The best dry food is considered to be the one whose composition is the shortest and most understandable to the average consumer. This is why you need to pay attention to the presence of the original text of the manufacturer - the translation sometimes differs from the source.
You can also feed your tomboy wet food, which is no less healthy than dry food. It doesn't last as long as dry food, but cats love it for its unsurpassed aroma and soft texture. By eating wet food, the animal immediately receives the necessary amount of water for digestion. According to veterinarians, such food eliminates the possibility of obesity - protein quickly saturates the pet. As when choosing dry food, you should carefully study the composition, paying attention to the quantity and name of the components.
Advice: under no circumstances should you feed your kitten dry or wet dog food - animals have different protein needs.
Meat and fish in the purr diet
Meat and fish are the main products of a balanced diet for a purr, the norm of good nutrition. It is better to include beef, rabbit and poultry in your daily menu. Raw meat contains more protein and nutrients, but it must be pre-processed. The product must be left in the freezer for several days to destroy foreign organisms.
It is advisable to exclude pork completely - some bacteria do not die when exposed to low temperatures. Boiled pork tenderloin is not saturated with essential vitamins and can cause stomach problems in the animal.
It is better to prefer beef to veal - it is a unique supplier of protein. Before feeding raw meat, it must be cut into small pieces and only scalded with boiling water. Minced meat is not considered an acceptable food for a fluffy - it passes through the intestines too quickly, without leaving a feeling of fullness. In addition, a cat, as a predator, needs to bite and chew meat, using its incisors in the process. You can feed not raw rabbit or poultry meat, but boiled meat, but without bones, which will only injure the animal’s stomach.
It is best to give fish to your pet only once or twice a week. Eating fish for a long time provokes vitamin deficiency, allergies, urolithiasis and low blood clotting.
What should you not give?
Prohibited foods for mustaches and why they are harmful:
- chocolate - the presence of caffeine and theobromine, which stimulate the nervous system and cardiovascular system;
- alcohol - causes disorientation, loss of coordination, vomiting and severe poisoning;
- coffee - causes hyperactivity, rapid breathing and heart rate, and ultimately hypertension;
- avocado - the presence of a toxin that causes vomiting, poisoning, and in rare cases, death;
- onions and garlic - contain harmful substances that cause anemia in cats;
- legumes - are not digested normally in the animal’s stomach, often leading to bloating;
- tomatoes - provoke severe pain in the intestines and stomach, fatal cases are known.
Video “What to feed cats?”
From the video you will learn how to feed an animal correctly and hear some tips on choosing food for your pet.
One of the questions that worries people who have never kept mustachioed pets is how much food does a cat need per day? Which one? Why can’t you give an animal as much food as he wants? Is it possible to feed a cat dog food? Answers to these and many other questions can be found in this article.
Optimally suitable menu
Natural nutrition
How much and how to feed a cat depends not only on the age and physiological state of the animal, but also on the energy value of the food or natural products from which Murka’s diet is based. Typically, the average cat for every kilogram of weight should receive:
- at least 10 g of protein,
- up to 2 g fat,
- up to 3 g of carbohydrates (of which up to 0.4 g should be fiber)
- and various vitamin and mineral baits and supplements.
How much food a cat needs per day can be seen in the table (when feeding natural products - g/day):
| Product type | Adult cats | Kittens | ||||
| up to 1 month | 1-3 months | 3-6 months | 6 months and > | |||
| Meat and meat by-products | 80-120 | 8-10 | 10-60 | 60-80 | 80-100 | |
| Fish | 80-100 | 6-8 | 8-50 | 50-60 | 60-80 | |
| Milk | 100-200 | 20-30 | 30-100 | 100-130 | 130-150 | |
| Cottage cheese | 30-50 | 3,5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | |
| Groats | 50-80 | 10-20 | 20-50 | 50-70 | 70-80 | |
| Vegetables | 30-40 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 30-40 | |
| Animal fat | 5-8 | 1 | 1-2 | 3 | 3-4 | |
| Flour | meat and bone | 10-15 | — | 5-8 | 8-10 | 10-12 |
| fish | 8-12 | — | — | 3-5 | 3-5 | |
| bone | 8-10 | 1-2 | 2-5 | 5-7 | 7-8 | |
| Fish fat | 1,3 | 0,5 | 0,5-1 | 1-1,5 | 1-1,5 | |
| Chicken eggs, pcs. | 1-2 per week | |||||
Depending on the general needs, cat owners can create the menu for their pets themselves.
A few simple recipes for nutritious feeding:
You can create different quantities of such recipes yourself. In addition to the listed products, your diet should contain 20-30 grams of fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, low-fat cottage cheese) every day. Vitamin and mineral supplements can and should be added to the composition.
How many natural food Should a cat eat it? It should be no more than 7-7.5% of the total mass cat's body.
Of course, the figure is approximate and can vary in one direction or another, depending on the physiological state of the animal (illness or recovery from it, pregnancy, feeding kittens with breast milk, old cats, etc.).
When feeding natural products, the amount the cat drinks water from 70 to 80 ml.
Feeding dry food
How much dry food should I give my cat? Typically, on the packaging, each manufacturer always writes the daily consumption rate, which should be followed. If there is no information (for example, the food was purchased in bulk without packaging), then you should roughly adhere to the following scheme (taking into account the average quality of the food):
These are very approximate standards that do not take into account the physiological state of the animal. If you are sick or breastfeeding, your portions will need to be adjusted. The composition of the feed also affects the amount of one-time and daily portions. Therefore, it is still recommended to find out how much dry food to give your cat per day, depending on its brand and nutritional value.
Animals that are on dry feeding should have free access to clean drinking water. The amount of water per day should be 3 times the weight of dry food consumed (for example, For 100 g of “drying” you should drink at least 300 ml of water per day).
Feeding wet industrial feeds
How much wet food should I give my cat? The basic rule of feeding remains the same here - we read the manufacturer’s recommendations and take into account the physiological state of the pet.
Wet food includes canned food (pates) and pouches (pieces of food in sauces or jelly). If the manufacturer does not indicate on the packaging how much wet food to give a cat per day, then the generally accepted norm is 5% of the total body weight.
It means that:
- for a pet weighing up to 3 kg per day, 100-150 g of food is enough;
- up to 5 kg - 225-250 g of feed, divided into the required number of feedings during the day;
- pregnant women of average weight (depending on breed and size) – 200-250 g.
How to tell if your cat has enough food
Why does an owner need to know how much food a cat needs per day? It's simple: you need to balance the amount of food in such a way that the pet has enough nutrients for life, but at the same time avoid overeating with excess weight and obesity or not leading to exhaustion. To control body weight, you can weigh your cat regularly. But this is quite troublesome, so it is better to control the amount of feed consumed from the very beginning.
If an animal does not have enough food, it will lose weight, its fur will become dull and begin to shed, it will constantly meow or look for ways to feed itself, for example, by pulling something off the table. In this case, the portion of food can be slightly increased. 
You can determine the degree of fatness and weight standards by examining the cat and palpating its body.
| Condition level | External characteristics |
| lack of weight: |
|
| lower limit of normal: |
|
| normal weight: |
|
| excess weight: |
|
| signs of obesity: |
|
Constant access to food – is it possible or not?
Sometimes, due to the nature of the working day, pet owners cannot afford to feed them strictly according to the hour. The solution is found in the constant presence of food in the bowl throughout the day. Is it possible to do this or not? It is possible, but this method of feeding is only suitable for mentally balanced cats that do not have a tendency to overeat.
Having the unhindered opportunity to approach a plate of food at any time, it can be tempting to eat constantly until the dishes are empty, rather than as needed.
Suitable for this feeding method dry food only:
- If Murka has an adequate appetite, you can pour in the entire daily portion of food at once in the morning and calmly leave the house.
- If you still have a tendency to overeat, take half the portion in the morning and the second half in the evening.
- If the owner leaves in the morning and does not know exactly when he will return, then 2/3 of the daily portion of food is immediately poured, and the remaining 1/3 is added in the evening.
This will not work with wet food, because... You can’t leave it in a cup for a long time because of the risks of rapid spoilage and indigestion later when eating it after some time.
This method of feeding is absolutely not suitable for kittens! Kids are completely unaware of moderation and will eat as much as there is food on their plate. This is fraught with overeating with all the ensuing consequences (indigestion, constipation, flatulence).
Nutritional and energy needs of cats
What is the essence of feeding animals in general? To replenish the energy and nutrients needed to maintain their normal functioning. The needs for all this depend on many factors:
- body weight and constitution(the smaller the cat, the more intense its metabolism, because there is more energy loss due to the high ratio of body surface area to mass);
- gender and age(young animals need more than older animals, cats need more than cats);
- physiological state(pregnant, lactating and sick animals have special needs);
- ambient temperature(the hotter it is, the less you want to eat).
Relationship between the quality of industrial feed and its quantity per feeding
- The higher the feed class for cats, the richer and higher quality the protein it contains. In cheap food, the source of protein is mainly plant components, in expensive food it is animal, in very expensive food it is pure meat. Therefore, the cheaper the food, the more it needs to be given to the cat to replenish the daily protein requirement.
- The higher quality and more natural the food, the less it contains various artificial additives that enhance the smell and taste, add color and ensure long-term storage of preservatives. Because of this, it should not be surprising that cats are more willing to eat low-grade food than holistic food. However, if you immediately accustom the animal to good food, it will no longer eat bad food.
- The worse the food, the more extra “ballast” it contains. from auxiliary components and less useful per 100 g of product. This “ballast” causes an increased and unnecessary load on the gastrointestinal tract. This means that, for example, an economy class food needs to be eaten by a cat from 130 to 200 g per day to get the full amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, while a luxury or holistic food needs only 45-60 g.
- Balance of vitamins and minerals Cheap feeds have none at all. If a cat's diet contains economy class food, then additional vitamins and minerals are required, i.e. these are additional costs. Expensive food is all-inclusive.
- High quality feed They contain additional components that improve metabolism and stimulate the functioning of both individual organs and systems and the entire body as a whole.
- Expensive food of the highest classes has a high cost, but at the same time low daily consumption.
When converted to cheap products, but with high consumption, the difference in money is small, but in benefits - colossal!
General classification of industrial feeds and what is best to feed
Traditionally, absolutely all factory-produced feeds are divided into 4 main classes:
Economy
The cheapest group of feeds, containing the cheapest ingredients. In fact, all waste from the food industry is collected here; there is no meat here at all. The protein comes mainly from plants, which is completely unsuitable for cats. Such food, of course, will not cause much harm, but there will be no benefit from it either. In order for such food to be eaten, it is saturated with various taste and smell enhancers. The consumption of such a product is very high due to its low nutritional value per 100 g of weight and poor digestibility. If you choose between a balanced natural diet (roughly speaking, buckwheat with meat) and economy-class food, then it is better to opt for a natural diet.
Premium
The most common group of feeds, because Thanks to its composition, it can balance between feeds close to economy class and super-premium. There are also few meat products and many offal, but the raw materials have certificates confirming their quality. Plants usually guarantee the preservation of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
Which of the foods in this group is good and which is not, you will have to determine on your own or with the help of a veterinarian. To do this, you need to compare the energy and nutritional composition with the amount of feed recommended by the manufacturer for daily consumption. For example, the protein value is declared, as in super-premium food, but the daily portion is large, as in economy food, which means that the protein component has a low quality amino acid composition, and the composition itself is oversaturated with other unnecessary additives.
Super premium
The name speaks for itself - it contains only high quality ingredients and natural origin. If turkey meat or beef meat is declared, then that is exactly what it will be. The result is protein with high nutritional value.
When feeding such food, there is no need to give cats additional vitamins or mineral supplements, everything is already here. This is a food with excellent digestibility, proteins, fats and carbohydrates available for digestion and an almost complete absence of taste and smell enhancers. All ingredients usually have quality certificates at the level of human food products. The cost of such feed is rather high, but the portion consumption is much smaller - this also results in savings.
Luxury and holistic
Elite feeds that occupy a special niche in feed production in general. These are products with a unique, environmentally friendly and most natural composition aimed at maintaining and enhancing the health of cats. The ingredients include meat, vegetables, cereals, grains, and natural fiber with maximum balance and concentration of all essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
Full absorption. There are no special dietary or medicinal lines in this line of food, because... The manufacturer boldly declares that the cat will not get sick at all if it eats only these foods from early childhood.
The level of purification and preparation of ingredients is certified by the human food quality control program. The food is equated in terms of usefulness to that which the cat supposedly could receive in its natural environment.
This food has a very small portion consumption per day due to the maximum concentration of useful and necessary substances in 100 g of product. The kit always comes with a special measuring cup, on which there are various notes indicating how much food a cat can feed per day, depending on its weight and physiology at a given specific point in time.
Why can't you feed your cat dog food?
The only and most important reason for this is different metabolism and the need for certain energy substances. You need to clearly understand the difference between the food and diet of a cat and a dog.
What is the difference between cat and dog food?
Feeding any type of animal with “not your own” food can lead to a lack or excess of certain nutrients, which, in turn, will definitely cause health problems over time!
What nutrients do cats need and why?
Protein
Cats have almost 3 times more need for protein than dogs; they really can’t live without it. In addition to the fact that mustachioed pets have an exceptional need for a constant supply of essential amino acids to the body, there is also a difference in protein metabolism. If there is a lack of protein in food, the liver will begin to consume it from the cat’s body, depleting it. In dogs, the speed and level of its decomposition reflexively decreases, due to which its preservation and need increase.
Such a high need is explained by the body’s constant need for essential amino acids - leucine, threonine, arginine, lysine, phenylalanine, etc. These substances are needed to maintain the normal condition of the coat, as well as for a sufficient amount of feline - a unique substance excreted in cats in the urine. There is especially a lot of it in cats - it is this that gives such a pungent smell to the urine of adult sexually mature individuals.
Another very important essential acid for Murok and Murzikov is taurine. It is synthesized in the body of dogs, but not in cats. This amino acid is absent from protein, but is found in muscle fibers of animal origin, i.e. meat is a pure protein product. Lack of dietary intake leads to disruption of the reproductive system, cardiovascular system and destruction of the retina. There are even special taurine deficiency syndromes associated specifically with disruption of the above-mentioned organs and systems.
Protein must be supplied to cats' bodies constantly! Source of protein for cats: meat, fish, dairy products. Source of taurine: meat and fish (mostly in turkey and raw tuna).
Fats
Not only the energy value of the food depends on this nutrient, but also its palatability for animals (of course, vegetable oil for a cat will be less attractive in smell and taste). In addition to energy, fats in the body perform two more very important functions - they dissolve fat-soluble vitamins into an easily digestible state and are a source of essential fatty acids. A cat's daily diet should contain at least 15% fat, and if it is a kitten, then all 20%.
You can feed your cat food purchased at the store or prepared yourself. The first option is simpler: in this case, you only need to choose the appropriate option for your pet. The main difficulty of the second is to develop a balanced diet from natural products. It is very difficult to do this without the appropriate knowledge or the help of a professional.
Don’t be fooled by the word “natural” in self-feeding: in fact, ready-made food is also made from natural ingredients, but taking into account the specific needs of the cat.
Achieving a nutritious diet at home is very difficult. Your animal will lack something, but something, on the contrary, will be in abundance. Ready-made feeds are designed in such a way as to avoid this.
Alexander Tkachev, Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, Vice-President of the Association of Practicing Veterinarians of the Russian Federation
If you have made a choice in favor of store-bought food, then you should not spoil your cat with food from the table. This can lead to nutrient imbalances and obesity.
But alternating dry and wet ready-made food is quite acceptable, especially if they are created by the same manufacturer.
Dry food promotes mechanical cleaning of teeth and supports digestion (it contains about 4% fiber). Wet food contains approximately five times fewer calories than dry food, so it provides balanced nutrition and prevents your pet from gaining excess weight.
How to choose food in the store
Ready-made food is divided not only into types (dry and wet), but also into classes: economy, premium, superpremium and holistic. When choosing, you should pay attention to this.
The difference between feeds is in the raw materials used and the packaging itself. For example, economy-class feed may contain by-products. This reduces the cost of feed.
Sergey Lozhkov, general practitioner, network of veterinary clinics "Center"
However, this does not mean that you cannot feed your cat cheaper food. It is much more important that it be complete.
The packaging should indicate that the food is complete. This means that it contains the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins. They provide the pet with health and activity.
Alexander Tkachev, Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, Vice-President of the Association of Practicing Veterinarians of the Russian Federation
Of course, it is worth considering the breed and. For all these cases, special feeds are developed.
In addition, you need to know if your pet has any diseases. For example, in case of chronic renal failure, the cat should be fed a medicated food with alkalizing substances and a reduced content of protein and phosphorus.
Sergey Lozhkov, general practitioner, network of veterinary clinics "Center"
How to feed your cat natural food
Prohibited Products
- Chocolate. May cause irregular heart rhythm, excessive thirst, and increased urination.
- Onion and garlic. They contain a substance that destroys red blood cells, which can lead to hemolytic anemia.
- Milk. May disrupt the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea.
- Alcohol. Makes the animal excitable, causes tachycardia, impaired coordination of movements and difficulty breathing.
- Yeast dough. Causes increased gas formation.
- Fruit seeds. They produce hydrocyanic acid and can cause poisoning.
- Grapes and raisins. Contain toxins that can lead to kidney failure.
- Avocado. May cause breathing problems and disrupt the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
- Macadamia nuts. They provoke lethargy, vomiting, fever and impaired movement.
- Sweetener xylitol. Increases insulin secretion, which can lead to vomiting, convulsions, loss of coordination and even loss of consciousness.
Eligible Products
The following products can be included in your pet's diet. But, of course, they cannot be given haphazardly.
- Meat and offal: chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef. It is better to freeze or boil meat to destroy harmful microorganisms that may be in it.
- Lean boiled fish without bones, it is better to choose sea.
- Egg yolks- better boiled.
- Cheese, cottage cheese and fermented milk products of medium fat content: kefir, sour cream, fermented baked milk, yogurt, cream.
- Cereals: steamed oatmeal, boiled cereals - rice, buckwheat, wheat groats.
- Raw or cooked pureed vegetables: carrots, cauliflower, green beans.
- Greenery: lettuce, spinach.
- Dry brewer's yeast.
- Vegetable oil.
- Mineral and vitamin supplements.
Natural food recipe from Sergei Lozhkov
This food can be fed to approximately 2.5 kg. If the animal has chronic diseases, you need to adjust the prescription with your doctor.
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken thighs;
- 100 g raw chicken liver;
- 200 g raw chicken hearts;
- 125 ml water;
- 2 egg yolks;
- 1 g taurine;
- 2 g fish oil;
- 100 mg vitamin B;
- 100 IU (67 mg) vitamin E;
- 4 g iodized salt or iodine supplement;
- 10 g psyllium powder.
Preparation
Remove 25% of the bones from the chicken thighs and remove the skin from half (if your cat is obese, remove all the skin). Grind the meat along with the bones until minced.
If you use boneless meat, do not forget to add calcium in the proportion of 1 g per 30 g of meat.
Mix the minced meat with the remaining ingredients. Store the finished food in the refrigerator or freezer. The daily norm for a cat is 2–4% of its weight. If the pet is overweight, the daily norm is calculated based on the ideal weight.
Do not forget that natural feeding requires knowledge of many nuances. If you decide to practice it, it is better to consult a doctor so as not to harm your beloved cat.
